By Terence Dooley
 
There was a bit of late drama at today’s weigh-in for Eddie Hearn’s O2 Arena show. Defending WBC lightweight champion Jorge Linares missed the division limit by 4ozs and was given just one an hour to get down to 135lbs or forfeit his WBC title.  Kevin Mitchell, the challenger, hit the scales at 9st 8lbs 4ozs.  Linares came back just over 10-minutes later and weighed in at 134.1lbs.
 
Both Lee Selby, 20-1 (8), and Evgeny Gradovich, 19-0-1 (8), hit their marks; Selby came in at 8st 13oz and Gradovich—the reigning IBF featherweight titlist—right at the 9st division limit. 
 
Anthony Joshua and Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson don't have to worry about weight limits, but still required to partake in the festivities. Joshua—an undefeated heavyweight and 2012 Olympic Gold medalist for Great Britain—scaled 17st 10lbs 8oz, whille the brash American challenger came in at a trim and ready 16st 1lb 5oz.
 
The night's third would title fight, and main event, saw Kell Brook hit 10st 6lbs 4oz. Frankie Gavin came in 5ozs heavier than the IBF welterweight titlist.
 
There are two British title fights on the card, welcome news for boxing fans who had started to feat for the Lonsdale belt, and all four fighters came in on or under the limit.  Scott Cardle weighed 9st 8lbs 9oz for his vacant British lightweight title fight against Craig Evans (9st 7lbs 1oz).  John Ryder was 11st 5lbs 3oz for his British middleweight title contest.  Nick Blackwell, his co-challenger for the vacant belt, came in at 11st 5lbs 3oz.
 
The night's other title action sees London's "John" Wayne Hibbert challenge Derby's Dave Ryan for the light-welterweight Commonwealth title.  Hibbert hit 9st 13lbs and Ryan added 3oz to that total when he took to the scales.
 
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